Ohio State Football: First Spring practice breeds optimism

The Ohio State football team had the first practice of Spring today and it’s breeding a lot of optimism around the program.

The Ohio State football team had its first Spring practice today. It’s a sign that football isn’t that far away and it gives us the first look at how this team is going to be put together. A lot of the questions stem from what the defense is going to look like this Fall.

Jim Knowles acknowledged that it’s early, but he likes the talent this defense has to offer. He seems to think this is a defense that can do some damage when the season rolls around.

The defensive line is certainly something that the Buckeyes need to improve on from last year. They simply did not get enough pressure on the quarterback or push up front in the run game at the end of the season. That will need to change for this team to contend for a national title.

Knowles also said he thinks that Kourt Williams and Ronnie Hickman can play together on this defense, which is a huge endorsement of Williams. Hickman is a shoo-in as a starter for one of the safety positions, so it sounds like Williams might have a chance to grab a starting spot too.

The defense is something that everyone will be watching all offseason. It’s only the first practice in Spring, so a lot more work needs to be done before any conclusions are made. Even so, it’s good to hear a lot of optimism from the coaches surrounding this team.

The Ohio State football program will keep practicing until the Spring game in mid-April.